Ilocanos remember Ablan’s heroism By: Freddie G. Lazaro LAOAG CITY, August 14 (PIA) - - The heroism of late Governor Roque Ablan Sr. during World War II (WWII) was remembered during the observance of his 107th birth anniversary last August 9. But to this day, while his heroism in WW II had been recalled, what he had become after his last stand against Japanese forces remained a mystery. Retired police General Juan Luna, who was the guest of honor and speaker, cited the heroic and colorful life of Ablan, once the youngest governor in the country at 32, who was caught up in a vicious war. Before a crowd of Philippine National Police (PNP) officers, government workers, residents, and representatives of the Ablan clan led by former Ilocos Norte Congressman Roquito Ablan Jr., Luna refreshed the life story of Roque Ablan Sr., the guerrilla leader and war hero. “Ablan was one of those who risked their lives to protect their constituents from Japanese invaders,” said Luna. When the Japanese landed at Vigan, Ablan refused to extend his cooperation to them as the governor of Ilocos. He left the provincial capital of Laoag to avoid arrest and transferred the seat of government to a remote barrio near the boundary of Ilocos Norte and Apayao. From there he led the organization of guerrilla units in coordination with Lt. Feliciano Madamba of the Philippine Army. By mid-January, 1942, the Ablan-Madamba Guerilla Group of Northern Luzon was organized. On January 27, Ablan and Madamba went to Solsona where they unearthed an arms cache of numerous rifles, machine guns and several numbers of ammunition. The following day, January 28, their first encounter with the enemy took place when Madamba’s unit successfully ambushed a Japanese detachment at Banna, and in the process, killed about 50 Japanese soldiers. The efforts of Ablan and Madamba were welcomed by the people. Many soldiers who failed to join the USAFEE (United States Forces in the Far East) in Bataan joined them. The Japanese sent planes to the towns of Banna and Nueva Era, and bomb and strafe guerrillas and civilians. Ablan’s guerrillas had a series of bitter skirmishes with the Japanese. After Bataan and Corregidor had fallen, the Japanese under Colonel Watanabe established their headquarters in Laoag. The enemy hunted Ablan and his resistance fighters and air units dropped leaflets urging him and his men to surrender. He refused to give up the struggle. Large forces hunted him down. A series of raids were staged on his guerrilla camp. He escaped enemy traps twice but his outfit nevertheless sustained tremendous losses. His units then adopted hit-and-run tactics. On November 8, 1942, Ablan launched a successful attack against Japanese patrols in Pampaniki, Solsona. On December 10 that same year, he left for Cagayan to confer with Governor Marcelo Adduru. His last words to his family reportedly were: “How I hate myself for having only one life to give to my country. But don’t cry. I will be back when liberty returns to our people.” He never came back and what had become of him remains a mystery to this day. He probably perished during an encounter with the Japanese or was captured, imprisoned and subsequently executed by the enemy. His heroic deeds have earned for him an honored place in his country history. Ablan Day is pursuant Republic Act No. 6941, which states that August 9 of every year is declared as Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. day, a special non- working holiday in the province of Ilocos Norte. (MCA/FGL PIA1- Ilocos Norte)
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 05:29:43 +0000
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